I want to wake up in the morning with my breath smelling just as sweet as it did the night before. No matter if I had garlic and onions on my pizza! Is that too much to ask? Seriously, Friends: What in the world happens while we’re sleeping?

I’ve heard rave reviews on tongue scrapers — which apparently are much more effective than just brushing your tongue — and rinsing out your mouth with peroxide before bedtime. What are your secrets? (Besides rushing to your minty toothpaste and mouthwash before you even think to say hello to your bed-mate!)

24 Comments

I just asked my husband that same question the other day: “What happens inside my mouth while I sleep that makes my breath so horrible when I wake up??” I can’t imagine swishing with peroxide before bed though – blegh! I usually get up to tinkle in the early morning before I’m ready to wake up so my secret is to rinse with mouthwash on my trip in to the bathroom and go back to bed, so by the time my husband wakes up, I’m a little more minty fresh. Now if I could just get him to do the same…. :)

I’ve used a tongue scraper for years and yes it makes a huge difference. Also, flossing nightly. Like a religion. I think sleeping on your side helps too, because the main cause of halitosis at night is your mouth drying out, saliva production going down… and if you sleep on your back and your mouth hangs open that makes it worse.

That way it’s a quick reach for a fast mouth refresh in the mornings. The mouthwash is also incredible & a great way to keep from getting sick with all it’s germ-killing properties. Our pediatrician said that germ-killing mouthwash & saline nasal spray are great ways to keep from getting sick because most “sick” germs attack through our mouths & noses.

allison

Gail

Lots of water throughout the day, flossing after each meal, waterpik before bed is my routine. Tongue scraping first thing in the morning, then 2 glasses of warm water. I recently upgraded from a plastic to a metal tongue scraper and couldn’t believe the difference in effectiveness–they are well worth the extra few dollars.

Niki

Yikes – you people are amazing! Hubby and I just accept the fact we both have bad morning breath. Never thought about any of this stuff! At some point in my morning I brush my teeth—usually after coffee. And once again before bed. If I’m feeling particularly energetic then I’ll floss. :-)

Roxana

My sister loves her tongue scraper. She gave me a few, but I’ve actually never tried them. Either way, I hear that swigging a hydrogen peroxide/water solution is really effective, too. Hydrogen peroxide takes a lot of swigging to get out of your mouth, though!

I should try the tongue scraper, but my husband says he doesn’t mind my morning breath, which blows my mind since I can’t stand his :)!

Oh, wow, great advice! I’m assuming they sell tongue scrapers at Target and I’ve just never noticed them?

(After I read your post, I had to dig out “Bossypants” because I remember Tina Fey covered this, and I know you love her, too! She describes it as waking up with a mouth that smells like a snail that’s been out in the sun. And then I kept reading…. Funny how that happens! I came across this totally off-topic quote, too: “I was a little excited but mostly blorft. “Blorft” is an adjective I just made up that means ‘Completely overwhelmed but proceeding as if everything is fine and reacting to the stress with the torpor of a possum.’ I have been blorft every day for the past seven years.” Good old Tina.)

Franca Bollo

I read about oil pulling the other day on the intuitionphysician.com. It is an ancient Ayurvedic remedy for oral health and detoxification. Preventing breathing bad breath is one of its benefits. You can ready about it here.

Estela

I swear I never heard about tongue scrapers before (i’ll google them after finishing this comment), my routine is pretty much brush my teeth about 3 or 4 times a day. Floss only when absolutely necessary, as in only if I feel food stuck in between my teeth and never been a fan for mouthwash. I am a lover of garlic and onions and yes, I eat them raw and believe me, morning breath is the least of my concerns.